Watertight deck plate

ABSTRACT

A trim ring has an annular rim and a cylindrical body insertable into a hole in the deck of a water craft. A cap has a depending cylindrical body that fits within the body of the ring. A gasket carried by one of the components is compressed between the two automatically as the cap and ring are brought together, and relaxes slightly as the cap reaches a fully closed position without hindering the watertight fit between the two components.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/544,891, filed on Feb. 13, 2004.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a deck plate, particularly for watercraft, having a cap or hatch cover that may be secured to a trim ring inwatertight condition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Access holes commonly are provided through the deck of a water craft inareas where the access holes are exposed to the weather. It is desirableto be able to close such holes with a cap or cover that can be quicklyand easily removed and replaced for a secure, watertight fit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a sturdy, inexpensive deck ring and coverconstruction. The cover can be quickly and easily removed and replaced,manually without the use of special tools. In one embodiment of theinvention, a trim ring has an annular gasket engaged by a thin ribprojecting downward a short distance from the underside of a peripherallip of the cover or cap. Interfitting cam projections and cams slots onthe cap and trim ring result in compressing the gasket against the ribas the cap is manually rotated to a closed position. In a secondembodiment, the cap carries a resilient, peripheral gasket which iswedged against the trim ring as the cover is closed, and a levermechanism for releasing the cap from the trim ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of thisinvention will become more readily appreciated as the same become betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description, whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective of a deck plate in accordance with thepresent invention, with parts shown in exploded relationship;

FIG. 2 is a corresponding top perspective thereof with the partsassembled;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the cap component;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section of the trim ring component; and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic vertical section of the deck plate with theparts assembled.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective of another deck plate in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a top plan thereof;

FIG. 8 is a section along line 8-8 of FIG. 7; FIG. 8A is a sectioncorresponding to FIG. 8 but with parts in different positions; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of a portion of a component ofthe embodiment of FIGS. 6-8A.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective of another deck plate in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 11 is a top plan thereof;

FIG. 12 is a section along line 12-12 of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 12A is a section corresponding to FIG. 12 but with parts indifferent positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a deck plate 10 in accordancewith the present invention includes a cap-12 and a trim ring 14 having agasket 16. The trim ring is mounted in a hole, such as in the deck of awater craft, and the cap may be secured to the trim ring to thecondition shown in FIG. 2 in which there is a watertight fit betweenthem.

With reference to FIG. 3, the cap 12 can be formed of a suitableessentially rigid plastic material such as n-polypropylene. The cap hasa top portion 18 with a peripheral lip 20 that overhangs a downwardprojecting cylindrical body 22. A thin annular rib 24 projects downwarda short distance from the underside of the lip 20. Short cylindricallocking cams 26 project outward from the lower portion of thecylindrical body 22, preferably at equiangularly spaced locations. Inthe preferred embodiment, four such locking cams are provided, spaced 90degrees apart. Generally rectangular stop blocks 28 project outward fromthe upper portions of the body, directly above each locking cam. Theangular extent of the stops 28 is greater than the angular extent of thelocking cams 26, measured circumferentially, i.e., from the rightmostedge to the leftmost edge as viewed for the central cam 26 and block 28shown in FIG. 3. As seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the upper surface of thecap has depressions 30 for grasping by a user to lift and lower the capand rotate it clockwise or counterclockwise.

Referring to FIG. 4, the trim ring 4 also can be rigid or essentiallyrigid molded plastic, such as n-polypropylene. The trim ring has adepending cylindrical body 32 that fits closely within a hole in thedeck of a water craft. During installation, downward insertion of thetrim ring into the hole is limited by an outward projecting annular rim34. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rim can have regularly spaced holes 36for fasteners, and sealant can be used underneath the rim for awatertight mounting.

Trim ring 14 has a circular opening 38 of a diameter slightly greaterthan the maximum diameter of the cap 12 including its projecting lip 20.A shallow annular groove 40 is formed between opening 38 and the innerperiphery 42 of the mounting ring body 32. The gasket 16, whichpreferably is of rectangular cross-section, fits tightly within thegroove 40 with its upper surface exposed.

Circumferentially extending and regularly spaced cam ramps 44 projectinward into the opening of the trim ring body 32. Once such ramp 44 isprovided for each of the cam pins 26. For example, four such ramps areprovided in the preferred embodiment, one for each of the cam pins,spaced 90 degrees apart. The geometry of the ramps 44 relative to thecap 12 and particularly its cam pins 26 is best described with referenceto the interconnection of the cap and trim ring obtained when the twoare fastened together. With reference to FIG. 5 (in which thedepressions 30 are not shown, for ease of explanation), the cap 12 canbe inserted downward into the trim ring 14 with the outer edge 46 of thelip of the cap close inside the opening 38 of the trim ring. Ifnecessary, the cap is rotated to a position in which the cam pins 26 arenot aligned with the ramps 44, enabling the cap to be fitted downward toa position in which the rib 24 is engaged against or close over the topof the gasket 16. In this position, each of the cam pins 26 is locatedbetween two of the ramps, and from this position the cap is rotated to aposition in which the pins slide beneath the trailing portions of theramps. The ramps are inclined downward at a very small acute angle froma position at their trailing ends in which the pins slide beneath theramps without engaging them to a central position, the bold dashposition of FIG. 5, in which the upper edges of the pins engage theundersides of the ramp just as the rib 46 engages the upper surface ofthe gasket 16. Further rotation of the cap wedges it downward, pressingthe rib 24 into the gasket to achieve the desired watertight fit. At theleading end portion of each ramp, a shallow, upwardly curved depression46 is formed which allows the pins to “snap” back upward a very shortdistance and provide tactile feedback that the desired, locked andwatertight position has been reached, with the rib 24 still pressedagainst the gasket 16. Further rotation in the locking direction isprevented by a downward extending portion 48 at the leading end portionof the ramp.

The gasket 16 is formed of a stiff but compressible and resilientmaterial which is highly impregnated with a low friction additive. Thisprevents the rib 24 from “grabbing” the gasket during tightening, andalso prevents undue wear of the gasket during repeated opening andclosing of the hatch cover. The blocks 28 limit downward movement of thecap 12 on the trim ring 14 by engagement against the flat top surfacesof the cam ramps 44.

From the locked position, the cap 12 can be rotated in the oppositedirection, the depression 36 being contoured to wedge the correspondingcam pin 26 downward a short distance during a short angular travel,followed by loosening of the grip of the rib 46 on the gasket 16 as thetop of the cam pins slide along the now upwardly inclined undersides ofthe ramps 44. If the loosening rotation is continued, ultimately thepins are offset from the ramps, permitting the cap to be pulled upward.The maximum loosening travel of the pins results in the pins engagingagainst the leading ends 50 of the ramps, such that the maximumrotational movement is limited to slightly less than 90 degrees.

The second embodiment of a deck plate 52 in accordance with the presentinvention is shown in FIGS. 6-9. This embodiment also includes agenerally cylindrical cap 54 that fits within an annular trim ring 56.The trim ring is mounted in a hole, such as in the deck of a watercraft, and the cap may be secured to the trim ring to the conditionshown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 in which there is a watertight fit betweenthe cap and ring.

Referring to FIG. 9, the trim ring 56 can be rigid or essentially rigidmolded plastic, such as in—polypropylene. The trim ring has a dependingcylindrical body 58 that fits closely within the hole in the deck of thewater craft. During installation, downward insertion of the trim ringinto the hole is limited by an outward projecting annular rim 60. Therim has regularly spaced holes 62 for fasteners to secure the rim to thedeck. Sealant can be used underneath the rim for a watertight mounting.

Still referring to FIG. 9, the trim ring 56 has a circular opening 64 atthe top of a diameter slightly greater than the maximum diameter of thecap 54. The depth of the large opening 64 is approximately equal to theheight of the peripheral lip 66 (FIG. 8 and FIG. 8A) of the cap 54.Returning to FIG. 9, a narrow shoulder 68 limits the extent to which thecap 54 may be inserted downward into the trim ring opening 64, byengagement of the underside of the lip 66 against the shoulder 68.

From the shoulder 68, the trim ring is tapered gradually inward alongconsecutive upright segments 70, 72, and 74. Segment 74 is essentiallyvertical. The inside surface 76 of the lower portion of the trim ringflares outward at a very small acute angle, such that there is agradually increasing diameter from segment 74 downward.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 8A for the additional details of the capconstruction, the cap is formed of a suitable, essentially rigid plasticmaterial such as n-polypropylene. A cylindrical body 78 projectsdownward from the top portion of the cap. This downward projectingcylindrical portion has an outward opening peripheral groove 80 whichreceives a resilient O-ring or gasket 82. Although the cylindricalportion 78 of the cap is sized to fit closely within the trim ring, theouter portion of the gasket 82 projects beyond the outer face of thecylindrical portion 78.

The groove 80 of the cap is positioned to align with the lower portion76 of the trim ring when the cap is fully inserted downward into thering and has the underside of its lip 66 fitted against the shoulder 68.As the cap is inserted, the gasket first engages the ring along thetapered segments 70, 72, 74 and is compressed for the desired watertightfit, followed by a slight expansion of the gasket outward into theflared section 76 as the cap is fully closed.

As seen in FIGS. 7, 8, and 8A, the cap 54 is formed with a top recess 84for an actuating lever 86. The lever is pivotally mounted in the recessby a horizontal pin 88. An outer portion 90 of the lever isapproximately aligned with the lip 66 of the cap when the cap isinserted onto its trim ring. In this position (FIG. 8), the uppersurface of the lever is approximately flush with the upper surface ofthe cap, and recess 84 provides a small finger notch which can be usedto access the inner portion of the lever 92, at the opposite side of itspivot 88. Removal of the cap from the trim ring can be accomplishedeasily by swinging the lever upward to the position of FIG. 8A, whichwedges the cap from the trim ring. Regardless of the position of thelever 86, the lever is automatically returned to the position of FIG. 8when the cap is reinserted into the trim ring and pushed downward.

The embodiment 52′ of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 10-12 isidentical to the embodiment of FIGS. 7-9, except that the cap 54′ has anextended lip 56′ which fits over the rim 60 of the trim ring. Ratherthan acting against a shoulder or notch of the ring, the lever 86 actsagainst the upper side of the rim 60. The watertight fit of the cap inthe trim ring is identical to that previously described, achieved by thegasket 82 being compressed as it is inserted downward into the centralopening of the trim ring, and relaxing slightly, but not so much as todetract from the watertight fit, as the cap reaches the fully closed orinserted position of FIG. 12. The projected rim 56′ overlies thefastener holes 62. Preferably the rim is tapered or faired into the deckso that it does not form an abrupt projection.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be appreciated that various changes can be madetherein without

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A deck plate comprising a ring component having a generallycylindrical body with a central opening, a cap component having agenerally cylindrical body that can be fitted into the opening of thering component between a position in which the cap component is removedfrom the ring component and a fully closed position in which the capcomponent is fully fitted into the ring component, and an annularresilient gasket carried by one of the components and positioned to theengaged and compressed against the other of the components automaticallyas the cap body is inserted into the ring body, the cap component andring component being constructed and arranged relatively such that thegasket relaxes slightly as the cap reaches the fully closed position butremains compressed for a watertight fit between the cap component andthe ring component.